European Standards, Regulations and Law

The text following outlines the main activities of each body as a guide to manufacturers and users of SRDs in Europe. This is not comprehensive and is intended only to give insight into the complexities of the interrelations between contributing groups.

There are three aspects to Standards and Regulations as applied to Short Range Devices in Europe.They are:

Standards

ETSI produces relevant radio standards, which may be Harmonised (HEN – Harmonised European Norm) or specific. Standards usually have 2 parts, Part 1- giving Technical Characteristics and Test Methods, Part 2 containing the Essential Requirements as demanded by Article 3.2 of the R&TTE Directive.

ETSI work programmes, to produce or modify standards or to consider new uses of spectral bands are initiated by the production of an SRDoc (Systems Reference Document) which describes the objectives of the work, benefits, the commercial impact, regulatory implications and the time scales for its conclusion.

As an ETSI member, LPRA participates actively in most SRD orientated TGs, via nominated delegates. Other members of LPRA can also attend TG meetings, though under certain restrictions. LPRA members are entitled to receive information from proceedings and to contribute input papers via its delegations. Resulting ETSI standards are available free through ETSI or additionally for LPRA members through the LPRA Secretariat.

Generic Standards

EN 300 220Electromagnetic compatibility and Radio Spectrum Matters (ERM); SRDs: technical characteristics and test methods for radio equipment to be used in the 25 MHz to 1000 MHz frequency range with power levels ranging up to 500 mW:Part 1: Parameters intended for regulatory purposes.Part 2: Harmonised EN covering essential requirements under Article 3.2 of the R&TTE Directive.

EN 300 330-1SRDs; Technical characteristics and test methods for radio equipment in the frequency range 9 kHz to 25 MHz and inductive loop systems in the frequency range 9 kHz to 30 MHz.

EN 301 489Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) standard for radio equipment and services. This is a multi-part standard covering all devices. Part 3 covers SRDs, Part 9 radio microphones and wideband audio devices. This standard replaces ETS 300 683.

EN 301 840Digital radio microphones operating in the CEPT harmonized band 1.785-1.800 GHz.

EN 302 208RFID operating in the band 865 MHz to 868 MHz.

Regulations

CEPT/ECC operates through three principal working groups:

WGFM (Frequency Management;

WGSE (Spectrum Engineering);

and WGRA (Regulatory Affairs).

For Industry, most important are WGFM, its subsidiary group SRDMG (Short Range Devices Maintenance Group) and WGSE together with its specialist subgroup SE24.The SRDMG handles interpretations of spectrum issues and relevant regulations from policy outlines received from wg FM. SE24 considers technical compatibility issues for SRDs resulting from the requirements of SRDocs. From time to time, Project teams are established by WGFM and WGSE to undertake mandated requirements from the EC or to handle regulatory issues for new technologies, for instance UWB.

LPRA has a LOU (Letter of Understanding) with the ECC which enables it to sit on Working Group and Project meetings to present Industry views on subjects under discussion.

The ECC via the ERO (European Radio Office) produces a key document "CEPT/ERC Recommendation 70-03 relating to the use of short range devices" which describes, in a series of Annexes the regulations and conditions for use of various categories of SRDs, together with exceptions wherein EU Member States inform of restrictions to use of SRDs in some frequency bands It also contains information relating to the status of implementation by Member States of new or changed standards and regulations.

Law

The EC produces the laws for the use of radio spectrum and the conditions of use for SRDs in Europe. Both the RSPG and RSCOM are essentially closed to industry attendance which is restricted to policy makers from the EC and Member State radio administrations Mandates on aspects of radio usage are issued from time to time by the EC to the ECC to report on. Practically speaking, industry input to conformity assessment and frequency issues is made by presence at TCAM meetings. This is generally provided by Trade Associations of which LPRA is one.